Warbird Information Exchange

A three blade Thunderbolt at Langley Research Center 9/14/1944

This Republic P-47D Thunderbolt was equipped by the NACA with a survey rake to measure propeller thrust in-flight. This rake protruded from either side of the nose just behind the engine cowling. Langley flew this Thunderbolt from July 1944 until April 1948. Not sure how well the three bladed prop worked out, but obviously not to a level of acceptability. Interesting look though. Reminds me of a three-legged horse ... or not ..

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

4-bladed T-Bolts look better ...

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

4-blades on a Thunderbolt? = Looks right!


Republic P-47 D-30 at Langley Research Center c 1944

4-blades on a Hellcat? = Not so much!


XF6F-6 Hellcat NATC at Grumman, Bethpage, NY. Two were built (70188, 70913). They have 2100 HP and a 4 bladed propeller 1944

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

With that last x-Hellcat, it doesn't look like there would be much ground clearance between the prop and the ground when it gets going down the runway and the tail lifts up.

It gets worse for the Hellcat ...


XF6F-2

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

I have always been quite fond of six blades on the Thunderbolt! Alright, not exactly a Thunderbolt but close enough for me.

Man, no problem with sweaty pilots with fans like those to keep 'em cool.

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Correct me if i'm wrong but didn't the early Spitfires come out with 2 blade wooden props?

You are correct sir!

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

3-blade Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-28541 in flight.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Some dizzying prop ideas ...

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

I kinda like the last image with the sweptback blades AND the spinner. I had not seen these before.

more 3-blade madness ...





... and not quite sure if many of you knew this bit of history, but David McCampbell was quite successful flying a 3-blade T-bolt in combat ...

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

A nice "what if" with the P-47 model.
Here's one you are missing for your collection.
P-47D serial 44-90219 bailed to the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) at Langley Field, Virginia following an inflight oil leak. Visible on the fuselage is the "buzz number" (PE219) and the first two letters of "TEST." The aircraft was used to test a number of different propeller configurations, this one being a 3-blade Curtiss Electric model. 1947.

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When I was young "sex was safe & flying was dangerous".

Yep! P-47D serial 44-90219 (PE219)

"Herbert O. Fisher (March 6, 1909 – July 29, 1990) was an American test pilot and an aviation executive, overseeing aviation projects at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He worked for the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. Fisher flew as a pilot for over 50 years, racking up 19,351 accident and violation free hours. During World War II Fisher was sent to the China-Burma-India theater to train the Flying Tigers as a civilian. He flew many combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Disproving the public perception of the heroic test pilot, among his peers, the portly Fisher was considered one of the premiere pilots of his time. "Herbert O. Fisher is one of those people who generally went unnoticed. That is until he climbed into the cockpit of an airplane."



Fisher with USAAF P-47D-30-RE Test PE-219

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”